Tragedy of the Commons

Question 1

Commons Dilemma

Answer 1

• renewable resource that is collectively shared (“commons”)
• if people cooperate, resource renews
• BUT if people take too much, resource depletes

Question 2

Commons Dilemma Examples

Answer 2

• Shared grazing area for cattle
• Fishing
• Amazon rainforest deforestation
• Fresh water (Colorado River, Aral Sea)
• we take too much of these collectively shared resources —> resources depleting (none to share anymore!)

Question 3

What can prevent this?

Answer 3

Wise Interventions
- are psychologically precise
- target recursive (recurring) processes to cause lasting change
- context-dependent

Question 4

Wise Interventions: psychologically precise

Answer 4

• starts with specific, well-founded psychological theory to create a precise tool to change a specific psychological process in a real-world setting
• reflects the same values in laboratory research

Question 5

Wise Interventions: target recursive (recurring) processes to cause lasting change

Answer 5

• can improve outcomes for years
• important to consider how interventions change not a moment in time but a process that unfolds over time

Question 6

Wise Interventions: context-dependent

Answer 6

• wise interventions will not always produce the same effects, must be wise to the population context

Question 7

Illustrative example: Voter turnout

Answer 7

How important is it to you to BE A VOTER in tomorrow’s election?
- to be a voter is about one’s identity, which is a valued one
- in-group (voter) vs out-group

Question 8

Illustrative example: Healthy Relationships

Answer 8

• instead of blaming your partner during a fight, take a step back and view this conflict from a neutral third-party perspective
• look at things from a different perspective

Question 9

Illustrative example: Health Outcomes

Answer 9

• usual treatment + postcards from hospital staff over next 12 months —> 50% decrease in rehospitalizations over next 5 years
• postcards can be a symbol of belonging and someone cares

Question 10

Mutual motivation to take too much

Answer 10

• incentive to exploit other’s trust
• concern about being exploited
• focus on the short-term instead of long-term outcomes

Question 11

Averting the Tragedy of the Commons

Answer 11

1. Incentives
2. Information
3. Identity
4. Institutions

Question 12

Incentives

Answer 12

Enhance the perceived benefits of cooperating and conserving

Question 13

Information

Answer 13

Enhance the knowledge and reduce uncertainty about others’ intentions

Question 14

Identity

Answer 14

Enhance sense of community and common social identity

Question 15

Institutions

Answer 15

Enahce trust in Rules and authorities

Question 16

Wise interventions are…

Answer 16

interventions that are more ordinary, briefer, and more precise AND aim to improve people’s outcomes in diverse circumstances and into the future